[jensputzier]

OK, after we returned a 530d to the dealer at the end of the leasing period we were stuck with one 520d F11 that had the issues of extreme sensitivity of the suspension and steering reported in this thread. BMW had done all they could and tried different setups with no success. We finally gave it to a company in Cologne, Germany, called Vetys that is know to solve such problems. They balanced the tires, exchanged two worn out rubber bearings and setup the whole suspension the way they said it should be done. And the car suddenly drives exactly the way it should. No sensitivity to wind or pulling anywhere it shouldn't. Just the way we expected a BMW to drive.

So it's not the car that is the problem, but the ability to adjust the suspension the way it could be done.

[Rbembas_M3]

Originally Posted by MojoeF10

Hello,

I ordered my Dark Graphite 535i in early April and took delivery on June 17. The car is fantastic and I love everything about it. But...since the day I took delivery, my car has been pulling to the right. The sales manager was telling me that it is a 'known issue' and that both of his demo cars pull to the right as well. Initially, he said it was an 'upper control arm' issue.

The service department is now telling me that BMW is aware of this known issue, but does not have a solution for it yet. So I have to sit and wait.

I read these boards regularly and I don't think I've seen anyone else complain about this issue. Does anyone have this same problem? Also, does anyone have some advice for me as to how I should handle this? Do I sit and wait for the fix? Do I have a lemon?

Thanks.

Took my 2011 535i in on Tuesday the 11th for pulling to the right. The dealer performed a 4 wheel alignment the back right was way off. Just picked it up today and wow no pulling at all and feels so much better.

[mpriceii]

Just got new 550i M SPort back from dealer yesterday....pulling the right issue...did new alignment, new software update for steering, replaced left control arm, the another new alignment. All is better now...steering feels a little more responsive than it did before.....my SA was well versed in this issue and did everything to get it right before I picked it up. Cant say enough good things about Classic BMW and Pat Arnold.

[OnlyTruth]

Got an alignment done and now it pulls even more to the right. The printout that they would not give to me, shows red numbers on the left and green ones on the right.........Drove 10 miles and sadly returned the car to the dealer, got back the Chevy Impala which ironically pulls to the right as well)

Dealership knows nothing about steering software and strut readjustment.....the invoice printout from the forum did not help

[Henke77]

Oleg, lemon the car.... If they can't help you, they better pay up and take the car back....
I'm getting so tired of all the problems and issues with this so called premium car....
If they don't fix everything ASAP I will not take the car back....

[OnlyTruth]

Originally Posted by Henke77

Oleg, lemon the car.... If they can't help you, they better pay up and take the car back....
I'm getting so tired of all the problems and issues with this so called premium car....
If they don't fix everything ASAP I will not take the car back....

Even though this is not the dealership i bought the car from? i m pissed that now it pulls even more and they got the nerve to claim that they fixed it
the invoice says first they checked tire pressure )) it is ok, then alignment and it was off, realigned and the car doesnt pull anymore, when in fact it pulls more

[snj1013]

There is a SIB for this. It is a software straight ahead conversion for steering.

[OnlyTruth]

Got my car back today. They arranged a drive together with foreman. The car pulls to the right same way it did the first time, better than the second time though. Foreman said they followed BMW instructions reprogrammed the steering however did not turn the struts as if my production date 10/2010 doesnt fall into this category. Swapped the tires front to back.
At first foreman tried "they all electric steering cars do this" but agreed to call BMW representative and bring him to the shop this time. Saga continues...

[OnlyTruth]

I decided to take my car to a different dealership, the one that I bought my car from. The first one although agreed to bring a bmw service engineer didnt earn my trust after trying to convince me twice that all was normal.

Guess what the second dealership could not replicate the problem at all. I had to travel there today early morning to test drive together with the shop foreman despite the fact that this is 60 miles away from me.

Good news is the foreman finally admitted the problem, but seemed reluctant to go the bulletin route. Well eventually he will I hope.

Band news is I suspect that they hit a pothole test driving the car because i felt a vibration on the floor. Foreman promised to road force balance it but it may not help.....

I am still pissed at BMW because the dealerships are like blind kittens to this problem.

[OnlyTruth]

One more alignment, shop is confident that it goes straight, but I am not.
I call foreman directly and tell him how to test the car. He calls back and admits that he doesnt like the way it drives)

2 days later he calls me back and is giving me "good news" that he took it on a Ferrari alignment machine..............shame on BMW that it builds new cars that need a Ferrari alignment ..... (dealership also owns a Ferrari/Maserati shop)

I am reluctantly going to check the car, but pissed off that neither dealership no BMW knows how to fix it. BTW foreman also spoke to BMW field service engineer , was he of any help I have no idea. If the car has had 5 alignments done some logic tells me that this is not the way to fix it. 2013 535 X-drive loaner has the same drift to the right.

And BMW customer relations solely relies on dealership only.

Ferrari alignment did not help, I trust the car has the best alignment on the world but it still pulls to the right from the middle lane.

[AP]

I had similar issues here in teh Uk with my car pulling to the left. Had a KDS alighnment which found the right rear toe in out by a third of a degree. They rectified that but I was still not happy. Went for a drive with a technician and he says it all fine.He admits it does pull to one side but its the camber.
Car is just very sensitive to camber and with us in teh Uk driving on the left, most roads will slope to the left pulling the car to the left.
I notice it most on motorways.

My E39 didn't feel like this though and the technician driving also currently drives a E39 so he know what I mean.

[ral8667]

I have a 2012 535i xDrive pulling to the right. Service did an alignment but it made no difference. I'm going to call them again this week bring it back in.

[OnlyTruth]

So I sent a letter to BWM stating that if the car is not fixed I am entitled to start a lemon procedure. BMW offered me to send an engineer to inspect the car and possibly fix it. Problem is it takes almost a month to meet with an engineer - have to wait for another 3 weeks now. Another problem, it is either I got used to pulling to the right or pulling indeed reduced. Has anyone's car become better over time?)

Edit: checked tire pressure and it was only 28 front/31 rear I increased it to 33/35 and pulling to the right is back at full force again. So reduced pulling was due to decreased tire pressure over time.....I know the door sticker says 35/39 but current 33/35 is already too firm.

[ral8667]

After two visits and two alignments, along with "Retrofitted straight ahead driving option to the vehicle through programming", the car still pulls to the right.

Going back in for a 3rd time tomorrow to drive with a foreman.

Interesting...when the highways are very smooth, the problem is less observed. When the highway is a bit on the rough side, or when there are bumps, the car seems to really pull to the right. Not sure why that matters.

More to come...

[BimmerGuyFL]

Has anyone found a fix for this?

[OnlyTruth]

If you look through this lengthy post, there is a bmw service bulletin that involves rotating front struts 180 degrees. This procedure helped some cars and some did not. I see that you have 2013. I drove the same loaner and it also had same pulling to the right issue.

[Peter Sheldon]

My 2011 528i pulls to the right very slightly. On long trips I have to change from left to right arm when it tires of steering

[Lazarini]

Feel my pain as i feel yours folks

I made this today... bought this car second hand 3 weeks ago its a 2010 530d... test drove it around the dealers a bit did not feel it... only came to feel this on the highway the other week... did 2 wheel alignments... one at a tire company 2 weeks back did not fix nothing did another one at the BMW dealership 3 days back its exactly the same...

Then found this thread if i only knew this 3 weeks back i would test the car looking for this... and would not pick it up. Period!!!

I mean WT.... I come of a E90 330d had bought it used had it for one year ran on summer setup mixed 18ns and winter setup classic 17s and nothing.... straight!
Then crashed the thing hard in the back of the car completely smashed front chassis had to be a bit realigned and after getting it back quess what went straight as an arrow!!! Hands of steering same speed e90 tracked perfect straight on the same road the video above was shot....


that all i can say...

L

[Needsdecaf]

Mine was completely solved. It can happen. I had it as bad as that video.

1. Software update
2. Rotate springs (not struts, there are no struts).
3. Replace upper steering column.

Good luck!

[rayhwc]

Mine was 80% resolved with a change to non rft Michelin PSS tyres. Previously did the strut rotation and alignment to no avail so I was pleasantly surprised that it corrected itself with the new tyres although that was not the reason for changing the tyres.

[Rbembas_M3]

Took my 535i 2011 in Gwinnett BMW repaired a rim and did a wheel alignment. What a difference running straight at 65 to 130 mph.....

[Lazarini]

Update,

took the car in on Wednesday evening showed the video and said the optics u did did not help at all i discussed some of the comments here with the service guy and told him they need to take in the car and fix it.

He said they will open the PUMA file and see what they get from Germany.
Did not hear from them for 3 days... went to do some grocery shopping this morning and dropped by the dealers... I see the same guy there looks like he is on call this Saturday so i walk up to him and say hi...

He is all like hello how are ... I say I'm ok but would like to know whats the deal with my car. He apologized that he did not call usual stuff bizzi etc... then he said that so far he don't have any good news, he given the car into care of their senior service person they tried a couple of things prior to opening the PUMA but to no avail at all. So now they are waiting for the BMW Germany to offer them solutions to this.

I hate to say this but there is a sour feeling in my mouth after this visit basically he said we cant fix it I hope there will be some constructive ideas out of this PUMA from Germany things that they did not try and potentially this gets fixed.

Only good thing out of this is they confirmed that in the state the steering is now on the video i posted above and tests they did the car is dangerous to operate! And that it needs to be solved...

I keep u posted, regards Laz.